Automatic switch mechanism.



,No. 838,090. PATENTED DEG. 11, 1906,

A. 0. DURDIN, JR. AUTOMATIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN-13. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEYS PATENTED mm 11, 1906.

HRH HII III I I r Ill [Ll H 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR APPLICATION FILED JAN-13. 1906.

A O. DURDIN, JR AUTOMATIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

1 W/TNESSESI fi (Z? M ATTORNEY! UNITED sfr 'rns PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS C. DURDIN, JR .,1OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ERWIN &COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed January 13, 1906. Serial No. 295,856.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS C. DURDIN, Jr., a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switch Mechanism, of

, which the followin is a-specification.

My invention re ates to improvements in automatic switch mechanism foropening and closing an electric circuit between a generator and anelectric motor, and the same is especially adapted to be usedinconnection with a reservoir of a water-supply system.

The object of my invention is to provide a upon or in connection with awater-reservoir, into which water is forced under pneumatic pressure bya force-pump which is driven with an electric motor, the constructionbeing such that when the water and air in the reservoir have reached apredetermined pressure the electric circuit communicating betweentheenerator and the motor will be automatically opened, when the motor willcease to run until the water in the reservoir has been partiallyexhausted, and thereby brought to a lower predetermined pressure, whenthe switch will be reversed and the electric circuit automaticallyclosed, whereby the motor will resume and continue its work until thehigher predetermined pressure is again attained and whereby the supplyof water in the reservoir may be thus auto matieally maintained withoutthe personal attention of an attendant.

'My invention pertains more especially,-

however, to the peculiar mechanismemployed for communicating a quickpositive movement to the circuit-closing switch in either direction froma slowly-moving diaphragm which is actuated by the pressure in thereservoir.

The construction of my invention is exglained by reference to theaccompanying rawings, in which Figure 1 represents a front View thereof.Fig. 2 is atop view and Fig. 3 represents a rear view, part broken awayto show the interior.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throu boutthe several views.

1 represents a diap iragm-chamber, which may be either connecteddirectly with the water-reservoir or the pipes leading to or from thesame by the .duct 2, whereby it will be understood that as the pressurein the reservoir. is increased or'diminished the diaphragm will beraised and lowered thereby, when motion will be communicated from thediaphragm, as hereinafter described, to the switch mechanism.

For convenience of construction I preferably support the switchmechanism directly upon the diaphragm-chamber,in which case the suporting-standard 3 is preferably cast integraly with the upper side ofthe diaphragm-chamber.

4 represents the-switch-b ar, whigh is pivotally supported at its centerfrom thestandard 3 on the bolt 5 and is adapted to contact at its resective ends with the terminals 6 6 when in t 1e position shown in Fig.1, whereby the electric circuit is closed between the electric generatorand the motor, (not shown) and the motor thereby is set in motion untilthe desired pressure is reached in the reser osition shown to thatindicated by dotted ines, whereby the electric motor will be caused tostop until the water-supply has, as previously stated, been partiallyexhausted, when the switch will be again thrown in contact with theterminals, and thus the pres sure in the reservoir will be automaticallymaintained.

Motion is communicated from the diaphragm 3 to the switch-bar 4 in onedirection as the; pressure in the reservoir is raised through thediaphragm-plate 7, reciprocating rod 8, pivot 9, lever 10, pivot 11,reciprocating bar 12, pivot 13, link 14, trunnion 15, lever 16, andlever-supporting pivot 5, which lever-supporting pivot 5 extendslaterally through the standard 3 and serves as a support for saidswitch-bar 4, which is riddly fixed to the front end of said pivot. hen,however, the pressure in the diaphragm chamber has diminished, saiddiaphragm is forced. in the opposite direction by the recoil of thespiral spring 17, and the movement of all said. parts is reversed andthe electric circuit closed as previously described.

The spii al spring 17 surrounds the reeiproeating rod 8 and isinterposed between the nut 18, which has screw-threaded bearings 19on-said rod, and the stationary bracket 20, which, rigidly fixed to orformed integrally with the standard 3. Said bracket 20 also serves thefurther purpose of a guide-bearing for the upper end of said rod 8. Thusit will be obvious that when the diaphragm 3 is forced upwardly by thepressure from the reservoir said spiral spring 17 will be compressed,and when the pressure in the reservoir is diminished the diaphragm. willbe forced downwardly by the recoil of said spring. It will also beobvious that the ten.- sion of said spring may be increased by turningthe nut 18 toward and against the spring and diminished by turning saidnut in the opposite dire etion', whereby the device may be adjusted soas to act when the water in the reservoir has reached any predeterminedpressure desired. For example, it the elevation to which the w ater isbeing forced is such that,iifty--pounds pressure in the reservoir isrequired: to carry the water to the desired elevation the nut 18 will beturned toward the spring until the tension of the same will require a p1assure of fifty pounds to the square inch in iih-ifi diaphragm-chamberbefore the switch mechanism will be moved. When, however, a lesspressure will serve the desired purpose tor raising the water to thedesired elevation, the nut 18 will be turned in the op positedirectionupon the rod 8, whereby the tension of the spring is diminished and theswitch mechanism will be actuated by a less pressure. Thus by turningthe nut 18 upwardly and downwardly upon the supporting-rod the apparatusmay be adjust-ed so as to actuate the switch mechanism, as stated, atany desired predetermined pressure.

It will be understood that as the rod 8 is raised the lever 10 will becarried upwardly from the point shown to that indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 3, whereby the bar 12 and the inner end of the link 14 will alsobe moved upwardly from the position shown to that in dicated by dottedlines in said figure, where-- by the spiral spring 21, carried by saidlink 14, will be compressed between the shoulder 22 of said link aridthe trunnion. 15, through which the upper end of said link 14 passes.

It will be understood that the action 01" the spiral spring 21 againstthe trunnion 15 will have a tendency to hold the lever 16 rigidly inplace a ainst the stop 23 until the pivot 13' has passe the longitudinalcenter of said lever 16, as indicated by dotted lines in aid' Fig. 3,and that as soon as said link has passed the longitudinal center of saidlever 16 the recoil of said spiral spring 21 Wlll act in the oppositedirection upon the outer end of said I lever 16, whereby said lever 16will be thrown with a nick positive movement from the position s ownagainst the stop 23 in the opposite direction to the position indicatedby ssaoee dotted lines in said figure against the stop 24, whereby theswitch-lever 41, which is rigidly fixed upon the outer end of said pivotwill be thrown from a position shown in Fig. 1 to that indicated bydotted lines in said figure and out ol contact with the electricterminals, whereby the electric motor will cease to run, as previouslydescribed.

it will now be understood that assuming that the lever 16 is in thelower position, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3,) it will remain insuch position until the pressure beneath. the diaphragm has been reducedand said diaphragm and the parts connected in the opposite direction bythe recoil of said spiral spring 17 and the inner end of said link 14brought below the longitudinal center ol' said lever .16 at the pointshown in said Fig. 3, when said lever 16 will be thrown upwardly fromthe position indicated by dotted lines to that shown. by the recoil olsaid spiral spring 21., whereby the switch-lever 1 will be again broughtin contact with the electrical terminals 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,when the electric circuit will be thereby closed and the motor willagain resume its work.

It will be obvious that by the device described for actuating thh lever16 the same will be retained at rest during the movement of the link 14until the inner end ol' said link has passed the longitudinal center ofsaid lever 1115 in either direction and that when said link has passedthe longitiulinal center of the lever said lever will. be moved with a(nick positive movement in either direction, whereby the switch-bar,which is rigidly lined to the protruding endol' the same pivotal supportwhich carries said lever 16, will also be moved with a quick positivemovement and the liability of said moving' parts becoming stopped ontheir centers or at any intermediate point between the extreme limits oftheir movements is avoided, whereby the motor will always act promptlyand positively. The lower end of the reciprcwating bar 12 is preferablyretained in place by antil'rictional roller 25, which roller ispivotally supported 4 from the standard 3% by the bolt or screw 26.

It will of course be und :rstood that the generator (not shown) isconnected with. the ifinding-screws 26 26 by electrical comluctors inthe ordinary way and that the electric motor is com'iected with thebinding-screws27 27 by electrical conductors in the ordinary way andthat consequently the circuit will be closed between the electricgenerator and the lllOlZOl' through the conductors 28, tcrmb 1 is 6 6,plates 29 29, and conductors 3U 3U, hereby as soon as the plates {.29are brought iu.contact with the terminals 6 the eiectric circuit will beclosed on both sides of the cir- Cliih.

"The trunnion 15 is pivotally connected w ith the lever 16 by the pin31, whereoy said therewith have been moved downwardly or ous t at thesame is end of the spiral spring 17 and the bracket for the reception ofthe upper end oi said spring.

While I have shown and described my switch mechanism in connection witha diaphra m and diaphragm-chamber, it is obviequally adapted to be usedin connection with a piston and cylintor communicating means actuated bed to be actuated in one der. The form shown, however, is preferred.Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is a 1. The combination with the terminals ofan electric switch of an electric switch-bar and a pivotally-supportedlever, means con nected with said switcl'i-bar for closin opening anelectric circuit through sai terminal s, a diaphragm-chamber andvibratory dia hragm located in said chamber adapted to e actuated in onedirection by fluid-pressure in said chamber and in the oppositedirection by the recoil of a spring, means for increasing anddiminishing the tension of; said spring whereby the same may correspondwith any desired predetermined ressure, means actuated by said diaphragma quic positive vibratory movement in either,direction tosaid-pivotally-supported lever and from thence to said circuit-closingmechanism. 1

2. The combination with the terminals of an electric switch of anelectric switch-bar,

means connected with said switch-bar for closing and o enin an elcctriccircuit through said termina s, a vi ratory diaphragm'adaptdirection byfluidpressurefrom awater-reservoir and in the opposite direction by therecoil of a spring, means for ad'usting the tension of said spring tocor'respon with any desired predeterniinci pressure of the fluid againstsaid diaphragm, said diaphragm for communicating a quic positivevibratory move ment in either direction to said switch-bar comprising alever rigidly fixed at the pivotal support of said switch-bar a linkhaving slidab e bearings at one end on the free end of said lever andpivotally connected at its opposite end with a transversely-movable barwhereby the pivotally-connected end of said link is carried toward thelongitudinal center of said lever in one direction by the action of saiddiaphragm and in tho opposite direction by the action oi" said spring, asecond spiral spring carried on said link interposed between a shoulderformed on the inner ivotal end of said link and the slidable bearlngs onsaid vibratory lever, said spring being adapted to be compressed as saidlink is drawn toward the longitudinal center of said and be adjusted toone end to tially as and for the purpose speci vibratory lever in theinner pivotal end of said link has passed the longitudinal center ofsaid vibratory lever in either direction, said s ring is adapted by itsrecoil to throw said vibratory lever in the opposite direction with aquick positive movement.

3, The combination with the terminals of an electric switch of apivotally su ported switch-bar, means connected wit said switch-bar forclosin and opening an electric circuit throu h sang terminals, avibratory lever rigidly ed at one end to the support' ing-pivot of saidswitch-bar and adapted to 1 communicate motion tosaidsWitch-bar as itsfree end is vibrated in either direction, a dis.- phra m-chamber, avibratory diaphragm locate in said chamber adapted to be actuated in'onedirection by fluid-pressure and in the opposite direction by the recoilofa spring, means actuated by said diaphragm for communicating a quickpositive vibratory movement therefrom to said vibratory lever comprisinga contact-bearing 7, reciprocating rod 8, vibrator lever 16, pivotallyconnecte at one end wit 'said rod Sby the ivot 5 and at its opposite endwith a ivotal y-connected trunnion 15, link 14, sli ably connected atits outer ends with said trunnion 15 and pivotally connected at itsopposite end with the reciprocating bar 12, bar 12, two-armed lever 10,said lever 10 being pivotally connected at one end with said bar 12 andat its opposite end with the rod-retaining bracket 20 and pivotallyconnected ends to said reci rocating rod 8, spira spring 21, interposedbetween the shoulder .22 of said link 14 and said trunnion 15, means forslidably guiding the free end of said bar 12 as the same is movedupwardly and downwardly by the action of the diaphragm 3 and spring 17said spring 14 being adapted to be compressed between the shoulder 22and the trunnion 15 as the pivotal end of said link approaches thelongitudinal center of said lever 1 6 in either direction, said springbeing adapted when the pivotal end of said link has passed thelongitudinal center of said lever 16 to recoil and throw said lever 16in the opposite direction whereby a quick positi movement iscommunicated from the slowly-movingdiaphragm in either direction throughthe mechanism described to said vibrato y lever 16 from said vibratorylever through pivot 5 to the circuit-closing inechanisnugllfubstanintestimony whereot 1 aflix my signature in the presence of witnesses.

AUGUSTUS C. DURDIN, JR.

Witnesses:

IIENltY ERwIN, Enw. it SHAW, WM. L. Wournas.

between its res ective:

either direction and when

